Focused Tree Control

Illustrative embodiments of the invention generally relate to data tree structures and, more particularly, various embodiments of the invention relate to navigating data tree structures.

Computer-aided engineering software typically presents an operator with a large menu of objects, which object may be selected and inserted into a 3D computer-aided design drawing by the operator.

The menu may take the form of a hierarchical tree in a graphical user interface, in which an object is shown by a graphical device (or “node”). Some such objects have subordinate objects. Selection of an object's node by an operator causes the node to expand to display nodes for the object's subordinate objects.

Illustrative embodiments address a problem that arises in user interfaces on a computer system.

More specifically, illustrative embodiments provide a computer user interface that address the problem of a user losing track of the user's location within a large tree.

For example, in 3D CAD engineering software, a project (e.g., a factory or other capital project) typically has hundreds or thousands of components. Each component, in turn, may have many sub-components, and each sub-component may have further sub-components. Such components and subcomponents form a hierarchy. Each such component and subcomponent is represented on a hierarchical menu corresponding to the project. The hierarchical menu is a data-centric way of navigating the 3D data.

For example, a factory may have a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes many components, including a conveyor belt, rotors on which the conveyer belt turns, a motor to turn the conveyor belt (or a rotor), and a computer controller to control motion of the conveyor system. Each such component may have one or more subcomponents.

For example, some rotors include a built-in motor, which motor is a subcomponent of the rotor.

A computer controller has several subcomponents, such as a computer processor, a circuit board, a computer memory, input-output circuits, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, and electrical connectors. Each subcomponent of the computer controller may itself have subcomponents.

A factory may also have a robot for manipulating production materials. The robot may have several subcomponents, such as a robot arm, a motor to move the robot arm, and a controller. The controller may have several subcomponents, as listed above. The robot arm may also have several subcomponents, such as a plurality of arm segments, joints between arm segments, and a gripper. Each subcomponent of the robot arm may itself have subcomponents. For example, a gripper may have a plurality of fingers, a plurality of joints, and an actuator to move one or more fingers relative to one another.

A factory may also have a pump, for example to supply fuel or raw materials into the factory. The pump may have several subcomponents, such as an inlet valve, an outlet valve, a housing, an impeller, a pump motor, and a pump computer controller. Each subcomponent of the pump may itself have subcomponents. For example, the pump motor may have an electrical cord, and an electrical switch, and an overload fuse.

Conveyor belt Rotor motor Rotor Circuit board Computer processor Computer memory Input-output circuits Analog-to-digital converter Digital-to-analog converter Electrical connectors Computer controller Conveyor System Arm segments Joints Gripper Robot arm Motor to move the robot arm Circuit board Computer processor Computer memory Input-output circuits Analog-to-digital converter Digital-to-analog converter Electrical connectors Computer controller Housing; Inlet valve Outlet valve Impeller, Pump motor  Electrical cord  Electrical switch  Overload fuse. Pump Robot Factory A text-based hierarchical user interface may display the factory as an indented list, in which each level of indentation signifies a lower level of hierarchical tree. For example:

These trees can become very large and can be difficult for a user to work with as there can be hundreds of thousands of nodes in the tree.

It can be very easy for the user to lose track of where they are, and it can be equally difficult to manage multiple selection of nodes in the tree when the nodes can be separated in different parts of a very large tree. And due to how traditional extended selection with a mouse works, it can be very easy for a user to accidentally mis-click and lose existing selections across a very large tree.

Illustrative embodiments provide a specialized tree control that allows the user to focus the view to a specific subsection of the tree. This allows the user to focus on a smaller subset of data at one time. Once the user has focused the view to a specific subset, the user can continue to focus the view down even further and can navigate back up because, in some embodiments, a history of the focused subsets is kept.

If a user has selected nodes in the tree and focuses the user's view to a subset, their existing selections are preserved. So, if the user makes a selection in the subset, the user will not lose any of the user's previous selections. This solves the problem of safely making selections across a very large tree.

To help the user navigate in the tree once the user has made one or more selections, the tree can display a list of the user's selections is a focused view which allows the user to quickly navigate the tree to any specific selection and allows the user to remove single selections with a single click.

The tree also has a dynamic search feature that will filer the tree nodes and only display those that meet the user's search input. If the tree is focused to a subset, then the search will only filter that subset. This is an additional way for the user to stay focused in the user's work.

Definitions: As used in this description and the accompanying claims, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless the context otherwise requires.

An “associated node”, with respect to given node on a given branch in a hierarchical tree, is a node on the same branch. For example, but without limiting the scope of the term, an associated node of a given node may be the parent node of the given node, a grandparent node of the given node, or a child node of the given node, or a node below a child node.

A “module” includes computer system hardware under control of computer-executable code which code, when executed by the computer system hardware, causes the computer system to perform the functionality of the associated module. A module may be configured to perform functionality by providing to a computer system computer-executable code which code which code, when executed by the computer system hardware, causes the computer system to perform the functionality.

A “set” includes at least one member.

A “sibling node”, with respect to given node, is a node that is subordinate to the same node (i.e., “parent” node) as the given node.

The term “subordinate,” with respect to a given node in a tree structure, means that the given node is beneath another node in the tree structure. A given node is immediately subordinate to the other node when there are no intervening nodes between the given node and the other node. A given node is indirectly subordinate to the other node when there is at least one intervening node between the given node and the other node.

1 FIG.A 100 101 110 120 130 110 120 130 101 110 120 130 100 schematically shows an embodiment of a prior art tree structurehaving a superior node, and a plurality of branches,,, each with a plurality of subordinate branches. In this embodiment, each branch,andextends from superior node. Each branch,andincludes a plurality of nodes. Each node may be described as belonging to a corresponding level of the tree structure, where the level is defined by a distance from a superior node.

1 FIG.B 110 100 110 101 1 1 111 112 1 1 schematically shows an embodiment of a subordinate branchof the prior art tree structure. The subordinate branchdepends from nodeand includes node.. Two branchesandextend from node..

1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 113 114 1 1 1 Node..and node..are each subordinate to node.. Two branchesandextend from node...

The “level” of a given node, relative to another node, may be defined by the number of nodes intervening between the given node and the other node, where the other node may be referred to as a reference node.

1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 For example, node...is on the same level as node...because each of node...and node...is the same distance from node.., where node..is the reference node, and where distance is measured by the number of intervening nodes between a node and the reference node. Specifically, node...and node...are each separated from node..by zero nodes. Similarly, where node.is specified as the reference node,...and node...are each separated from node.. by one node (in this case, node..).

A node can be on the same level as another node even if those nodes are in different branches, as long as each of those branches extend from a node that the branches have in common. A “common” node, with regard to two branches, is a node from which both branches extend.

1 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 111 112 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 FIG.B For example, node...is on the same level as node..., even though node...is on a different branch from node.... In, branchesandhave node.in common. In this case, node...is separated from node.by one node (in this case, node..) and node...is separated from node.by only one node (in this case, node..).

2 FIG. 200 201 schematically shows an embodiment of a systemcomprising a plurality of modules in communication with one another via a bus.

200 210 211 212 210 220 211 212 The systemincludes a communications moduleconfigured to communicate with electronic devices external to the system, such as a network of computers, and/or a database. In illustrative embodiments, the communication moduleis configured to access data defining a hierarchical tree of nodes, each node representing a corresponding component of a capital project or a subcomponent of a component of a capital project. Such data may be stored, for example, in system memory, or in a computer network, or a database, to name but a few examples.

200 220 220 The systemincludes a memory, which may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The memorymay store data, such as a computer aided-design drawing and a listing of components of a computer aided design drawing, and/or executable computer code.

200 230 The systemincludes a display driverconfigured to display one or more images, such as a user interface, on a computer display.

200 240 232 233 240 231 The systemincludes a user interface moduleconfigured to receive input from a user. For example, the user interface module may receive user input via a computer keyboardand/or a computer mouse, and the user interface modulemay be configured to display one or more user interfaces on a computer display (or monitor). to name but a few examples.

200 210 In illustrative embodiments, modules of the systemare configured to cooperate to permit a user to navigate a large tree of nodes representing components of a computer-aided design drawing. Such an illustrative embodiment includes a communication moduleconfigured to access data defining a hierarchical tree of nodes, each node representing a corresponding component of a capital project or a subcomponent of a component of a capital project.

200 230 The systemalso includes a display driver moduleconfigured to cause display, on a computer monitor, a first user interface comprising a plurality of displayed nodes, the displayed nodes comprising fewer than all nodes from the tree of nodes, at least a first set of the displayed nodes being nodes from a first level in the tree of nodes, and at least a second set of the displayed nodes being nodes from a second level of tree nodes, the second level being lower than the first level, each node of the second level representing a subcomponent of a component represented by a node of the first level.

200 240 The systemalso includes a user interface moduleconfigured to receive, from a computer user via the first user interface, first user selection of a particular node from the displayed nodes, said particular node being a first selected node, the first selected node being from the first level of nodes.

230 In such an illustrative embodiment, the display driver isfurther configured to display, on the computer display in response to said first user selection of said first selected node, a second user interface separate from the first user interface, the second user interface displaying said first selected node in addition to first associated nodes that are associated nodes to the first selected node; and the user interface module is further configured to receive, via the first user interface, a second user selection of a second particular node from the tree of nodes, said second particular node being a second selected node from the first level of nodes; and the display driver is further configured to display in the second user interface, and in response to said second selection, said second selected node and a second set of sibling nodes of said second selected node while still displaying in the second user interface the first selected node in addition to a parent node of said first selected node, and the first associated nodes of said first selected node.

3 FIG.A 3 FIG.B 360 370 231 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method.schematically illustrates an embodiment of a first user interfaceand a second user interfaceon a computer display.

310 100 310 360 Stepincludes presenting a user interface on a computer display device, which user interface is configured to enable a user to navigate nodes of a hierarchical tree. In illustrative embodiments, stepincludes presenting, via a first user interfacedisplayed on a computer display, a plurality of displayed nodes. The plurality of displayed nodes includes fewer than all nodes from the tree of nodes, in which at least a first set of the displayed nodes are nodes from a first level in the tree of nodes, and at least a second set of the displayed nodes are nodes from a second level of tree nodes, the second level being lower than the first level. Each node of the second level representing a subcomponent of a component represented by a node of the first level.

4 FIG. Some embodiments include accessing data defining a hierarchical tree of nodes, each node representing a corresponding component of a capital project or a subcomponent of a component of a capital project. The user interface may be a graphical user interface in which each node graphically represents a corresponding component of a capital project or a subcomponent of a component of a capital project, and in which each node is graphically coupled to at least one other node by a graphical connector, as in, for example.

5 FIG.D 5 FIG.D In some embodiments, the user interface presents the nodes as a cascading list of text items, in which each text item represents a corresponding component of a capital project or a subcomponent of a component of a capital project, as into name but one example. In such a cascading list, an item that is subordinate to a superior item (e.g., as a subcomponent is subordinate to another component) may be indented relative to the superior item, as into name but one example.

310 360 231 In illustrative embodiments, stepincludes presenting, via a first user interfacedisplayed on a computer display, a plurality of displayed nodes. In illustrative embodiments, the displayed nodes include fewer than all nodes from the tree of nodes. At least a first set of the displayed nodes are nodes from a first level in the tree of nodes, and at least a second set of the displayed nodes are nodes from a second level of tree nodes, the second level being lower than the first level. In illustrative embodiments, each node of the second level represents a subcomponent of a component represented by a node of the first level.

320 Stepincludes receiving, via the first user interface, a first user selection of a particular node from the displayed nodes, said particular node being a first selected node, the first selected node being from the first level of nodes.

330 231 370 360 In illustrative embodiments, stepincludes displaying, on the computer displayin response to said first user selection of said first selected node, a second user interfaceseparate from the first user interface. In illustrative embodiments, the second user interface displays the first selected node in addition to first associated nodes that are associated nodes to the first selected node.

340 Stepincludes receiving, via the first user interface, a second user selection of a second particular node from the tree of nodes. The second particular node is a second selected node from the first level of nodes.

340 350 In response to the selection at step, stepincludes displaying, in the second user interface, said second selected node and a second set of sibling nodes of said second selected node while still displaying in the second user interface the first selected node in addition to a parent node of said first selected node, and the first associated nodes of said first selected node

4 FIG. 400 400 400 schematically illustrates a graphical illustration of a treefor purposes of illustrating various embodiments herein. The treemay be a complete tree, or may be a subordinate branch of a larger tree. In illustrative embodiments, the treemay include a hierarchical tree of nodes, each node representing a corresponding component of a capital project or a subcomponent of a component of a capital project.

400 6 1 410 420 6 1 410 6 1 1 6 1 420 6 1 2 6 1 6 1 1 6 1 2 6 1 Treehas a top node.. Two subordinate branchesandextend from top node.. Branchbegins with node.., which is subordinate to top node., and branchnode.., which is subordinate to top node.. Node..is on the same level as node.., although those nodes are in different branches with respect to node..

411 412 6 1 1 Two subordinate branchesandextend from node...

411 6 1 1 0 412 6 1 1 1 Branchbegins with node..., and branchbegins with node....

6 1 1 0 6 1 1 1 6 1 1 Node...is on the same level as node..., although those nodes are in different branches with respect to node...

421 422 6 1 2 Two subordinate branchesandextend from node...

421 6 1 2 0 422 6 1 2 1 Branchbegins with node..., and branchbegins with node....

6 1 2 0 6 1 2 1 6 1 2 Node...is on the same level as node..., although those nodes are in different branches with respect to node...

6 1 1 0 6 1 1 1 6 1 2 0 6 1 2 1 Nodes...,...,...and...are all on the same level, and each has subordinate branches.

6 1 1 0 1 6 1 1 0 2 6 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 2 6 1 1 1 6 6 1 2 0 1 6 1 2 0 2 6 1 2 1 1 6 1 2 1 2 Likewise, nodes....,....,....,....,....,....,....,....and....are all on the same level, and each has subordinate branches.

5 FIG.A 4 FIG. 5 FIG.A 500 400 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a computer user interfacedisplaying at least a portion of a large tree in which each node of the tree is referred-to as an “item.” In this illustrative example, the treeofmay be considered to be a sub-portion of the tree represented in.

510 500 512 512 510 512 Some embodiments include a path windowthat is displayed in response to a user selecting, or hovering over, a specific item in the tree. In some embodiments, when user hovers a mouse pointer over a tree node that is not at the root level, a focus elementappears in the user interface. In some embodiments, the focus elementis accompanied by a path windowshowing the full hierarchical path of the node. If the user clicks on the focus element, the tree view will be focused to the item—if it has children—or the item's parent node.

5 FIG.B 510 510 510 400 400 400 For example,schematically shows a path windowcorresponding to specific Item 6.1.3. The path windowrecites the path from that specific item (Item 6.1.3.) to its parent (Item 6.1) and its grandparent (item 6.0). The path windowdisplays information that informs the user about where the specific item (Item 6.1.3) is within the context of the tree, and thereby helps keep the user oriented to the treeeven when much or most of the treeis not displayed on screen.

510 512 512 In illustrative embodiments, the path windowincludes a focus element, which focus elementis in addition to the displayed item to which is corresponds.

512 When the user selects (e.g., clicks on) the focus element(which may be a button for example), the user interface focuses to the specific item and its siblings (i.e., items that are on the same level of the specific item and that are subordinate to the specific item's parent). In some embodiments, the focus also includes the parent item of the specific item.

512 520 370 5 FIG.B 5 FIG.C For example, if the user selects the focus elementin, a second user interface(which may referred-to as a “focus window” and which is an embodiment of second user interface) () displays the associated specific item (Item 6.1.3) in the context of its parent item (Item 6.1) along with its sibling items (Item 6.1.0; Item 6.1.1; Item 6.1.2; and Item 6.1.4).

370 Illustrative embodiments allow the user to select another item (from the second user interface), which may be referred-to as an additional item, without losing simultaneous display of the user's previous selection or selections of items from the tree. The additional item may be from the same level as the specific item, or from a level below the level of the specific item, or from a level above the level of the specific item.

5 FIG.D 5 FIG.D 510 512 schematically illustrates a user interface in which the user has specified an additional item (Item 6.1.1.1.2) which is from a different branch than the first item (Item 6.1.3).also includes a second path windowwith a second focus element.

512 5 FIG.E When the user selects (e.g., clicks on) the second focus element(which may be a button for example), the user interface focuses to the specific item (in this example, Item 6.1.1.1.2) and its siblings, as schematically illustrated in, for example. In some embodiments, the focus also includes the parent item (in this example, Item 6.1.1.1) item of the specific item. In some embodiments, the focus also includes the children items (in this example, Item 6.1.1.1.2.0; Item 6.1.1.1.2.1; Item 6.1.1.1.2.3; Item 6.1.1.1.2.4) of the specific item.

520 522 622 622 522 622 In illustrative embodiments, the focus windowmay also include a selection pane toggle device(e.g., an icon) that when activated causes the selection paneto be displayed, and when not activated causes the selection paneto not be displayed. Activating (e.g., clicking on) the toggle devicetoggles the visibility of the selection pane.

520 523 In illustrative embodiments, the focus windowmay also include a search boxthat allows a user to input a search term to identify items within the tree.

520 525 520 525 525 520 520 520 520 512 512 In illustrative embodiments, the focus windowmay also include one or more graphical elementsthat graphically signal to the user that the focus windowis a subset of the tree created by selecting one or more elements of the tree, as described above. In illustrative embodiments, the one or more graphical elementsare in addition to borders of a window in which the user interface is displayed, and in addition to elements of such a window. In some embodiments, a focus window shows a graphical elementat the tope and/or bottom of the focus window to denote that the focus windowis displaying a subset of the full tree. Alternatively, or in addition, some embodiments display a text label indicating that the focus windowis displaying a subset of the full tree. The user can continue to work in the subset displayed in the focus window, or may narrow the focus further (e.g., while remaining within the focus window) by clicking a focus elementon or associated with other child nodes displayed in the focus window.

520 521 520 521 521 5 FIG.E In illustrative embodiments, the focus windowmay also include a back button(which may take the form of a back arrow), that allows the user to undo the user's immediately preceding act.schematically illustrates a user interfacewith a back button. To that end, some embodiments keep a history of the user focus actions, so that the user can navigate backward through the focused views using the back button.

5 FIG.E 5 FIG.D 5 FIG.E 5 FIG.D 520 512 521 schematically illustrates user interfaceafter the user has focused the user interface ofby activating buttonto select and focus the user interface to expand item 6.1.1.1.2. After activating back button, the user interface fromreverts to the user interface in.

6 FIG.A 6 FIG.A 622 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a user interface having a selection pane. As illustrated in, the user has made three selection (Item 1.2, Item 1.4 and Item 1.5) . If the user desired to focus into another part of the tree, the user can, in some embodiments, left-click, CTRL+left-click, and SHIFT+left-click to make additional selections without losing the user's previous selections.

6 FIG.B 6 FIG.B 622 622 622 622 622 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a user interface having a selection pane. The selection panedisplays several nodes that have been selected by a user. One of those nodes [“Item 6.1.1.1.5 (339)”] is also displayed in the tree of nodes, and is highlighted to indicates that that node has been selected and that it is also displayed in the selection pane. In, as the user select a node [“Item 6.1.1.1.5 (339)”], the system and methods add that node to the selection pane. A user can easily navigate to a previous selection by clicking on the icon for that selection within the selection pane.

6 FIG.C 122 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a user interface having a selection pane in which several nodes are listed in the selection paneand are also displayed in text format in the second user interface. The nodes displayed in text format are also highlighted.

6 FIG.D 6 FIG.E 6 FIG.D 6 FIG.E 6 FIG.E 623 622 622 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a user interface having a remove button.schematically illustrates an embodiment of a user interface subsequent to use of a remove button. Specifically, the user interface ofincludes an icon for “Item 1.2 (155).”schematically illustrates that user interface after the user uses the remove button to remove “Item 1.2 (155)” from the selection pane, and sodoes not include “Item 1.2 (155)” in the selection pane, although “Item 1.2 (155)” still appears in the second graphical user interface.

Various embodiments may be characterized by the potential claims listed in the paragraphs following this paragraph (and before the actual claims provided at the end of this application). These potential claims form a part of the written description of this application. Accordingly, subject matter of the following potential claims may be presented as actual claims in later proceedings involving this application or any application claiming priority based on this application. Inclusion of such potential claims should not be construed to mean that the actual claims do not cover the subject matter of the potential claims. Thus, a decision to not present these potential claims in later proceedings should not be construed as a donation of the subject matter to the public.

accessing data defining a hierarchical tree of nodes, each node representing a corresponding component of a capital project or a subcomponent of a component of a capital project; presenting, via a first user interface displayed on a computer display, a plurality of displayed nodes, the displayed nodes comprising fewer than all nodes from the tree of nodes, at least a first set of the displayed nodes being nodes from a first level in the tree of nodes, and at least a second set of the displayed nodes being nodes from a second level of tree nodes, the second level being lower than the first level, each node of the second level representing a subcomponent of a component represented by a node of the first level; receiving, via the first user interface, a first user selection of a particular node from the displayed nodes, said particular node being a first selected node, the first selected node being from the first level of nodes; displaying, on the computer display in response to said first user selection of said first selected node, a second user interface separate from the first user interface, the second user interface displaying said first selected node in addition to first associated nodes that are associated nodes to the first selected node; receiving, via the first user interface, a second user selection of a second particular node from the tree of nodes, said second particular node being a second selected node from the first level of nodes; and in response to said second selection; and displaying, in the second user interface, said second selected node and a second set of sibling nodes of said second selected node while still displaying in the second user interface the first selected node in addition to a parent node of said first selected node, and the first associated nodes of said first selected node. P1. A method for navigating a large tree of nodes representing components of a computer-aided design drawing, the tree having a plurality of nodes across a plurality of levels, the method comprising: displaying, on the computer display, a selection pane, the selection pane displaying a section of the large tree of nodes, the section graphically identifying each node of a plurality of nodes selected by the user. P2. The method of P1, further comprising: highlighting each node of the plurality of nodes selected by the user. P3. The method of P2, wherein graphically identifying each node of the plurality of nodes selected by the user comprises: providing a selection pane toggle device that, in a first state causes the selection pane to be displayed, and in an alternate, second state cause the selection pane to not be displayed. P4. The method of any of P1-P3, further comprising: displaying, as part of the second user interface, a set of graphical elements graphically indicating to the user that the second user interface is distinct from the first user interface. P5. The method of any of P1-P4, further comprising: prior to receiving said first user selection of said first selected node: displaying a focus button in response to the user placing a graphical pointer over said particular node and, in response to user activation of said focus button: causing said generating of said second user interface. P6. the method of any of P1-p5, further comprising: prior to receiving said first user selection of said first selected node: displaying, adjacent to the focus button, a path window displaying the path from the first selected node to the parent node and all intervening nodes. P7. The method of P6, wherein the first selected node depends from a parent node via a set of intervening nodes, and the method further comprises: displaying a back button configured to revert the user interface to a previous state after receiving said second user selection, said previous state displaying the user interface as it was prior to receiving said second user selection. P8. The method of any of P1-P7, further comprising: P9. The method of any of P1-P8, wherein the first user interface comprises a graphical tree of nodes. P10. The method of any of P1-P9, wherein the first user interface comprises a text-based listing of nodes. a communication module configured to access data defining a hierarchical tree of nodes, each node representing a corresponding component of a capital project or a subcomponent of a component of a capital project; a display driver configured to cause display, on a computer monitor, a first user interface comprising a plurality of displayed nodes, the displayed nodes comprising fewer than all nodes from the tree of nodes, at least a first set of the displayed nodes being nodes from a first level in the tree of nodes, and at least a second set of the displayed nodes being nodes from a second level of tree nodes, the second level being lower than the first level, each node of the second level representing a subcomponent of a component represented by a node of the first level; a user interface module configured to receive, from a computer user via the first user interface, first user selection of a particular node from the displayed nodes, said particular node being a first selected node, the first selected node being from the first level of nodes; the display driver is further configured to display, on the computer display in response to said first user selection of said first selected node, a second user interface separate from the first user interface, the second user interface displaying said first selected node in addition to first associated nodes that are associated nodes to the first selected node; and the user interface module is further configured to receive, via the first user interface, a second user selection of a second particular node from the tree of nodes, said second particular node being a second selected node from the first level of nodes; and the display driver is further configured to display in the second user interface, and in response to said second selection, said second selected node and a second set of sibling nodes of said second selected node while still displaying in the second user interface the first selected node in addition to a parent node of said first selected node, and the first associated nodes of said first selected node. wherein: P11. A system for navigating a large tree of nodes representing components of a computer-aided design drawing, the system comprising: P12. The system of P11, wherein the display driver is further configured to display a selection pane displaying a section of the large tree of nodes, the section graphically identifying each node of a plurality of nodes selected by the user, simultaneously with displaying the second user interface displaying said first selected node in addition to first associated nodes that are associated nodes to the first selected node. P13. The system of any of P11-P12, wherein the display driver is further configured to display, as part of the second user interface, a set of graphical elements graphically indicating to the user that the second user interface is distinct from the first user interface. the display driver is configured to display a focus button in response to the user placing a graphical pointer over said particular node; and the user interface module is configured to receive user selection of said first selected node via user activation of the focus button. P14. The system of any of P11-P13, wherein: P15. The system of any of P11-P14, wherein the first selected node depends from a parent node via a set of intervening nodes, and the display driver is configured to display, prior to receiving said first user selection of said first selected node, a path window displaying the path from the first selected node to the parent node and all intervening nodes. code for accessing data defining a hierarchical tree of nodes, each node representing a corresponding component of a capital project or a subcomponent of a component of a capital project; code for presenting, via a first user interface displayed on a computer display, a plurality of displayed nodes, the displayed nodes comprising fewer than all nodes from the tree of nodes, at least a first set of the displayed nodes being nodes from a first level in the tree of nodes, and at least a second set of the displayed nodes being nodes from a second level of tree nodes, the second level being lower than the first level, each node of the second level representing a subcomponent of a component represented by a node of the first level; code for receiving, via the first user interface, a first user selection of a particular node from the displayed nodes, said particular node being a first selected node, the first selected node being from the first level of nodes; code for displaying, on the computer display in response to said first user selection of said first selected node, a second user interface separate from the first user interface, the second user interface displaying said first selected node in addition to first associated nodes that are associated nodes to the first selected node; code for receiving, via the first user interface, a second user selection of a second particular node from the tree of nodes, said second particular node being a second selected node from the first level of nodes; and in response to said second selection; and code for displaying, in the second user interface, said second selected node and a second set of sibling nodes of said second selected node while still displaying in the second user interface the first selected node in addition to a parent node of said first selected node, and the first associated nodes of said first selected node. P16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer executable code thereon, the computer executable code, when executed by a computer system, causing the computer system to perform a method, the code comprising: code for displaying, on the computer display, a selection pane, the selection pane displaying a section of the large tree of nodes, the section graphically identifying each node of a plurality of nodes selected by the user. P17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of P16, further comprising: code for displaying, as part of the second user interface, a set of graphical elements graphically indicating to the user that the second user interface is distinct from the first user interface. P18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of P16-P17, further comprising: code for displaying, prior to receiving said first user selection of said first selected node, a focus button in response to the user placing a graphical pointer over said particular node and, code for causing said generating of said second user interface in response to user activation of said focus button. P19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of P16-P18, further comprising: code for displaying, adjacent to the focus button and prior to receiving said first user selection of said first selected node, a path window displaying the path from the first selected node to the parent node and all intervening nodes. P20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of any of P16-P19, wherein the first selected node depends from a parent node via a set of intervening nodes, and the code further comprises: Without limitation, potential subject matter that may be claimed (prefaced with the letter “P” so as to avoid confusion with the actual claims presented below) includes:

Various embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented at least in part in any conventional computer programming language. For example, some embodiments may be implemented in a procedural programming language (e.g., “C”), or in an object-oriented programming language (e.g., “C++”), or in Python, R, Java, LISP or Prolog. Other embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented as preprogrammed hardware elements (e.g., application specific integrated circuits, FPGAs, and digital signal processors), or other related components.

In an alternative embodiment, the disclosed apparatus and methods may be implemented as a computer program product for use with a computer system. Such implementation may include a series of computer instructions fixed either on a tangible medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium (e.g., a diskette, CD-ROM, ROM, FLASH memory, or fixed disk). The series of computer instructions can embody all or part of the functionality previously described herein with respect to the system.

Those skilled in the art should appreciate that such computer instructions can be written in a number of programming languages for use with many computer architectures or operating systems. Furthermore, such instructions may be stored in any memory device, such as semiconductor, magnetic, optical or other memory devices, and may be transmitted using any communications technology, such as optical, infrared, microwave, or other transmission technologies.

Among other ways, such a computer program product may be distributed as a removable medium with accompanying printed or electronic documentation (e.g., shrink wrapped software), preloaded with a computer system (e.g., on system ROM or fixed disk), or distributed from a server or electronic bulletin board over the network (e.g., the Internet or World Wide Web). Of course, some embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented as a combination of both software (e.g., a computer program product) and hardware. Still other embodiments of this disclosure are implemented as entirely hardware, or entirely software.

Computer program logic implementing all or part of the functionality previously described herein may be executed at different times on a single processor (e.g., concurrently) or may be executed at the same or different times on multiple processors and may run under a single operating system process/thread or under different operating system processes/threads. Thus, the term “computer process” refers generally to the execution of a set of computer program instructions regardless of whether different computer processes are executed on the same or different processors and regardless of whether different computer processes run under the same operating system process/thread or different operating system processes/threads.

The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be merely exemplary; numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by any of the appended claims.